Moody, Broody, Detective Scooby
Moody, Broody, Detective Scooby
Because it's time to brie cheesy...
Because it's time to brie cheesy...
The streets are wet with rain. A detective leans against his desk, a cigarette dangling from his lips. A femme fatale walks in, draped in shadows. Trouble follows.
This challenge asks you to write a scene dripping in noir clichés—the moodier, the broodier, the better. Noir is all about sharp dialogue, dark alleyways, and a detective who’s seen too much. But this time, you’re leaning all the way in.
The more over-the-top, the better.
Set the mood. Rain, neon lights, smoky rooms—make it feel like a noir movie from the start.
Write in short, punchy sentences. Noir is snappy, quick, and full of bite.
Lean into clichés. The detective is world-weary. The client is mysterious. The city is a character itself.
Make the dialogue dramatic. Every line should sound like it belongs in a black-and-white movie.
Give your detective a flaw. They drink too much, they hate their job, they have a tragic past.
What’s the most dramatic way to introduce the detective?
How can the dialogue feel sharp, snappy, and overly poetic?
What’s the case? Is it ridiculous? Or does it seem normal until it takes a turn?
What’s the final punchline? Noir always ends with a detective getting what they wanted… or realizing they never really could.
Classic Noir Films (The Maltese Falcon, Double Indemnity, The Big Sleep) – Fast-talking, shady characters, and doomed romances.
Raymond Chandler’s The Long Goodbye – The ultimate moody, broody detective story.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? – A brilliant noir parody that leans into the clichés.
The World-Weary Detective – He’s seen it all. He’s tired, bitter, but still clinging to his own broken moral code.
The Femme Fatale – She’s dangerous, seductive, and definitely hiding something.
The Crooked Cops – The police are either corrupt, incompetent, or both.
The Case That’s Too Personal – The detective swore he’d never get involved again, but here he is.
The Shadowy City – The city isn’t just a setting—it’s a character in itself. The streets are wet, the alleys are dangerous, and nothing is ever clean.
The Monologue – The detective narrates his thoughts as if he’s talking to the night itself.
The Client With a Secret – They need help, but they aren’t telling the whole truth.
The Bar That Solves Everything – Every noir detective knows the bartender. The bartender knows everyone’s business.
The Gun in the Drawer – The detective keeps one. He swore he’d never use it again. But guess what?
The Betrayal – Someone will double-cross someone. Maybe everyone.